Aug 29, 2008

Warren Edward Buffett (born August 30, 1930, in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American investor, businessman and philanthropist. He is regarded as one of the world's greatest investors and is the largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. With an estimated net worth of around US$62 billion, he was ranked by Forbes as the richest person in the world as of February 11, 2008. --Wikipedia

Secret #1: Happiness comes from within.

“In my adult business life I have never had to make a choice of trading between professional and personal. I tap-dance to work, and when I get there it’s tremendous fun.” -- Warren Buffett

My thoughts: Computers and writing software has always been my passion since the first Apple desktop was released. I left this passion for several years but can't seem to forget about and something keeps drawing me back to it. I then decided to drop from med school and started re-learning and write software. I followed my heart's desires despite all odds and now, I work as Chief Technology Officer and enjoying every single day of it.

Secret #2: Find happiness in simple pleasures.

“I have simple pleasures. I play bridge online for 12 hours a week.” -- Warren Buffett

My thoughts: Yes. Life's greatest happiness come from the simplest of things. It's easy to be distracted from false pleasures in the age of commercialism all the while, true pleasures are eagerly waiting for me back home.

Secret #3: Live a simple life.

“I just naturally want to do things that make sense. In my personal life too, I don’t care what other rich people are doing. I don’t want a 405 foot boat just because someone else has a 400 foot boat.” -- Warren Buffett

My thoughts: Many people I know mistook 'simplicity' to being an underachiever. Simplicity is focusing on things that are essential, staying pure and being humble. For me, the essentials are keeping my kids to school until they finish college while aspiring to get a modest home that we can call our own and save-up for retirement. I guess, anything more that that is just for show-off.

Secret #4: Think Simply.

“I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” -- Warren Buffett

My thoughts: Clarity comes from genuine understanding of ones self. If that's done, only then one can tread a life of meaning and purpose. With this, I will worry about things that concerns me now while still directed towards the future. This also means that I shall have only pure thoughts and not be tainted by complexities and negative ideas.

Secret #5: Invest Simply.

“The best way to own common stocks is through an index fund.” -- Warren Buffett

My thoughts: Okay, I am not an investor and I don't even know what index fund means until I googled it. I think the idea here is to save wisely and not putting all one's entire savings in a single basket. Stay away from 'get rich quick' schemes or any forms of investments that is too good to be true.

Secret #6: Have a mentor in life.

“I was lucky to have the right heroes. Tell me who your heroes are and I’ll tell you how you’ll turn out to be. The qualities of the one you admire are the traits that you, with a little practice, can make your own, and that, if practiced, will become habit-forming.” -- Warren Buffett

My thoughts: "As the twig is bent, so the tree is inclined" or "The child is the father of a man". Our life's direction is molded early on by our parents, teachers, and heroes. Let's learn the good qualities, leave behind the bad ones and be the best we can be.

Secret #7: Making money isn’t the backbone of your guiding purpose; making money is the by-product of your guiding purpose.

“If you’re doing something you love, you’re more likely to put your all into it, and that generally equates to making money.” -- Warren Buffett

My thoughts: Remember the movie "The Field of Dreams" and the very popular phrase - "Build it and they will come"? Yes, just follow your heart's desire and wealth will come as a side-effect.

** This article was inspired from a post made on SuccessSoul.com and added my own personal thoughts and opinions on them. Please take time also to visit that very wonderful site as well.

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My Digital Corner

Hello World! My name is Dan and I hailed from the beautiful island of Cebu (that's the aerial shot you see on top).

This is my solo blog and is one of many random musings of just about everything and anything. However, this blog is rather more focused on giving advices and tips in technology solutions that you can easily setup for your home or office on a shoestring budget. Other categories include IT leadership and management as well.

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